Determining Eligibility

DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY

SCCC’s Veterans Coordinator will assist Veterans, dependents of veterans, reservists, and National Guardsmen/women with the application and certification process. The Veterans Coordinator will assist eligible student to apply for their educational benefits for the Montgomery G.I. Bill under Chapter 33, 30,31, 32, 35, 1606(REAP) and VEAP. If you have any questions regarding VA benefits please contact our Veterans Coordinator at (973) 300-2109.

Veteran Benefits

Listed below is a quick overview of the various educational benefits that a Veteran maybe eligible. For additional information please visit www.gibill.va.gov.

Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill
You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty (excluding entry level and skill training) after September 10, 2001.

You may be eligible if you were discharged due to a service-connected disability after serving at least 30 continuous days on active duty after September 10, 2001.

Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill Educational Assistance Program (MGIB)
You may be eligible if you served on active duty and meet certain conditions. Note: You do not have to be on active duty to apply for benefits under this program. You must meet any one of the following conditions:

You first entered service on or after July 1, 1985 and you didn’t decline this benefit at your initial entry into service (or)

You entered service (or agreed to delayed entry) before January 1, 1977, and you have educational assistance entitlement remaining under the Vietnam Era GI Bill (also known as “chapter 34) (or)

You were voluntarily separated under the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) or Special Separation Benefit (SB) programs and had your military pay reduced by $1,200 (or)

You were involuntarily separated from active duty after February 2, 1991 (or)

You were on active duty and participant in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Education Assistance Program (VEAP) program on or before October 9, 1996, or you first entered the National Guard under title 32, US Code between July 1, 1985, and November 28, 1989, you elected chapter 30 benefits between October 9, 1996, and October 8, 1997, and you paid $1,200 (or)

You were on active duty and eligible for VEAP benefits on October 9, 1996, you elected chapter 30 benefits between November 1, 2000, and October 31, 2001, and you paid $2,700.

Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill – New Jersey National Guard ProgramChapter 1607 – Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
You may be eligible if you are a member of the Ready Reserve and were called or ordered to active service to support a contingency operation for at least 90 consecutive days on or after September 11, 2001.

Chapter 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation
You may be eligible if you served in the armed forces during World War II or thereafter if all of the following conditions are met:

You received a service-connected disability while on active service entitling you to compensation (at least 10% as rated by the VA).

You have been discharged or released under other than dishonorable conditions (and)

The Veterans Administration determines a need for vocational rehabilitation to overcome the handicap.

Eligibility is for 12 years following discharge. Certain circumstances warrant an extension as determined by the VA.

Chapter 35 – Dependents Educational Assistance
Generally eligible are survivors of deceased veterans, or permanently and totally (100%) disable veterans, as a result of a service-connected disability or an individual on active duty who has been listed for a total of more than 90 days as missing in actions. Other categories may apply.